10. THE SCRIPT ROOM

We are all sitting on the floor in the cozy Knight's Inn room at Atherton, watching Kevin sketching on a piece of paper. He's unexpectedly good at it. We are making the plan of Shevell's house to find the best way to sneak into the script room.

Yeah. It's decided. We REALLY are infiltrating the museum.

I'm so going into jail.

When I suggested sneaking into the museum at lunch, I didn't mean it, it's just a random idea! Okay, I mean it, but I didn't mean to get myself involved! I get it that the clue hunt is everything, but do we really have to cross the legal boundary? What if somebody notices us? What if we're caught in the act? Seriously, this is horrible. I've known that the clue hunt is crazy from the first time, but I didn't expect it might make me a criminal. Well, only for trespassing, but still…

Oh, wait. The Holts tried to burn me in Grandma Grace's house. Arson it's criminal, isn't it?

Bugger. I REALLY should have picked the money.

But since I've messed it all up, maybe I'd better have fun. It's kinda exciting, like playing spies.

Only this is not a game. This is real.

"I thought the window is over there, not here," Tristan points out on some spots on the sketch?

"What? Gosh, I have to erase it all…," Kevin complains.

"Can't you just cross it or something? It's just a sketch after all, it doesn't have to be perfect, Kev," Jason advises.

"It might be just a sketch, but sketch is still ART!" Kevin talks back as he looks for the eraser.

They can argue as much as they like. I'll just get my phone. The good thing is that this place's got wi-fi. The last time I could find internet, I had to look up for the clue. I open the browser and type .

Once my page is loaded, I find comments stacking up.

Okay, I admit it. The comments are stacking up, but all those comments were from two people.

Half were from Reagan, asking if I'm still alive. It's a wonder she remember asking me this since she was one of those who plotted to burn me alive.

Maybe she didn't want it to be so. Maybe she tried to stop it or something…

I HOPE she tried to stop it or something. I mean, Reagan's my only friend.

I hesitate before I hit 'reply' button.

In the end, I give her a simple yes.

I scroll down through all the comments. The rest come from Henry Blair, the leader of Thompson Falls kendo club. His message reminds me of something REAL important.

What the hell do you mean by 'travelling round the world'? The final match is NEXT WEEK! I'll kill you if you're not back for it!

God. I totally forgot.

My club is participating in a regional competition. I made it to the final. And the final is next week.

I know quite well that the clue hunt isn't going to end by next week.

Let's just forget it. I might be imprisoned by that time anyway.

"Do you get it, Cailin?" Jason startles me, "W-what?"

"The plan."

"Er, could you please repeat it again?"

He sighs, "So, we'll sneak in tonight, when the museum is closed. Tristan and I will sneak into the script room through the window over here," he points on a certain area of the sketch, "It will be locked, but hopefully it's just an ordinary lock. We might be able to pick it. Once we get inside, we'll search the documents. You and Kevin will stand guard. If anyone comes, Kevin can create distraction. If it doesn't work, you confront them."

Confront? he doesn't mean he wants me to kick any intruder's as, does he?

"W-what? Confront? Can't I just search the documents with you guys?"

"You're the one with the weapon," Tristan ogles my Sachi.

God. This is bad. If the police comes, I'll definitely be the first one caught.

I've tried to get myself out of the trouble, I really try, but I fail nonetheless. So here I am, hiding behind a pine tree in Richard Shevell's garden in the middle of the night. Looking out for possible danger.

"Hoahm," Kevin who has been standing beside me yawns, "This is so boring!"

"Yeah," I agree, "I think no one's coming around…"

I HOPE no one's coming around. Seriously, this place is getting rather creepy. I mean, it's real dark and it's real cold and it's real quiet. If I were alone here, I would run back to the Knight's Inn and snuggle up. If anybody comes around, it only adds up to my nightmare.

"So take care, okay?" I hear Kevin says

"What?" I turn towards him. No one's there. I look around. There's still no one.

I'm. Alone. Here.

"Kevin?" I call. Maybe he sees something, so he goes to see what it is, "Hello?"

No response.

Then I saw a figure in the darkness, walking towards the house. Maybe it's him. I run towards that figure, "Why you—"

The figure turns. Just then I notice that that figure is not Kevin at all.